Kouyaté's career began in the early 1980s, when she began using female choral vocals accompanying her. This practice was later picked up by stars like Mory Kante and Salif Keita, and is now an integral part of Malian music. Her debut solo album is Kita Kan.
Kandia Kouyaté suffered a stroke in late 2004, and it is speculated that she will not be able to record or perform again.
Djanfa
Kandia Kouyate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E kana ne maloya
Em
Djanfan ma nyin de
C
kana ta ka n to
Am
i t´i miiri kuma ka ma
djarabi
Djanfan ma nyin de
ka nono na malo kelema
djarabi
Djanfan ma nyin de
e kana ne Djanfan
djarabi
layidu ka gelen
ka nono na malo kelema
djarabi...
The song "Djanfa" by Kandia Kouyaté is a lament about the suffering caused by war, particularly the trauma of losing loved ones. The lyrics are primarily in Bambara, a language spoken in Mali and neighboring countries. The verses repeat a few phrases, which are communicating different aspects of the pain and injustice of war. The chorus, "Djanfa n ma nyin de," means something like "I suffer from the war" or "The war brings me pain."
The opening lines set the scene: "E kana ne maloya/Djanfan ma nyin de" ("In this country of sorrows, I suffer from the war"). The singer references the "nyama" (meaning "life force" or "essence") that has been stolen away by the war, and the pain of that loss is clear in the singer's voice. Later, the lines "ka nono na malo kelema/Djarabi" ("My heart is heavy with grief/Djarabi") emphasize the deep emotional toll of the conflict. The verses also describe the destruction and displacement caused by the war, with lines like "layidu ka gelen" ("homes have been destroyed").
Line by Line Meaning
E kana ne maloya
This song is a traditional Malian song
Djanfan ma nyin de
I am calling on my ancestors to guide me
kana ta ka n to
With the power of my voice
i t´i miiri kuma ka ma
I will bring the hearts of the people together
djarabi
Like a flower
ka nono na malo kelema
I honor the spirits of my ancestors
e kana ne Djanfan
This song is dedicated to the ancestors
layidu ka gelen
Through this song, I seek their guidance
ka nono na malo kelema
I honor the spirits of my ancestors
djarabi
Like a flower
Djanfan ma nyin de
I am calling on my ancestors to guide me
Contributed by Ava J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@moussaconde9309
Belle sonorité mandingue❤
@francoisredhon6798
Jalimusoo malienne (une griotte) et joueuse de kora. Elle fait partie des ngara, titres donnés aux grands chanteurs, et est quelquefois appelée "La dangereuse".
Sa façon de chanter, dense, émotionnelle, hypnotique, lui vaut d'être populaire au Mali, et jusqu'en France, à Paris, même si elle est relativement moins connue à l'extérieur de l'Afrique, du fait de la faible disponibilité de ses enregistrements. Elle a inclus, dans son répertoire, aussi bien des récits traditionnels, des chansons d'amour que des chants de louange.